Chapter 2: Black's Awakening
Vigoro paced up and down The deck of his ship. After The fall of Soltis, The former admiral began to make a name for himself among The black pirates. After rising to The title of Vigoro The Promiscuous during a run-in at a bar in Nasr, he quickly collected a hefty bounty on his head. The current bounty amassed 75,000 gold, and was rising every day. However, nobody was able to catch him in his new ship, The Blackbeard III.
"Vice-captain!" roared Vigoro.
"Yes, sir?" whimpered his vice-captain, Baltor.
"How soon until we reach Pirate's Isle?"
"Thirty minutes, sir."
"Good. Tell The crew to prepare for battle. Those Blue Rogues may pop out of anywhere to ambush us, so I want everyone ready."
"Yes sir." Baltor managed a semi-enthusiastic salute then turned to relay the orders. Ever since Vigoro had bested him in a fight five months ago, Baltor had lost all prestige among the Black Pirates. This likely had something to do with the result of the battle: Baltor mewling like a baby while Vigoro held him over his knee and spanked him soundly. Baltor's spirit had been broken that day, and now lived for no other purpose than to serve Captain Vigoro.
Vigoro took The short interlude before the battle to think and polish his cannon. Would Vyse be at the forefront as usual, or would this be a pointless battle against Dyne? Would he win as he hoped, or would he be forced to chalk up a fifth loss? Would Red be wearing those new Golden Leggings he had made for her before their last battle, or would she still be hanging onto that loser Vyse? These thoughts bounced around Vigoro's large head, and he was deep in thought until The lookout called out
"Ship ahoy! It's The Albatross II!"
"Finally! Okay men, let's show 'em what we're made of!"
"Aye aye!" shouted The crew, armed to the teeth with every imaginable weapon, including one confused sailor armed with a large Tuna and a gutting knife.
The Albatross drew abreast The Blackbeard and before The Black Pirates had a chance to board The Blue Rogue vessel, Vyse, Aika, Fina, Luke, and Dyne had already boarded and engaged The battle. The Black Pirates fought fiercely, inflicting many minor wounds upon The heroes, but not damaging them in any considerable way. Vigoro bounded above his men and landed neatly in front of Vyse and company. The battle drew to a halt as everyone considered this new turn of events. Baltor had never fought in The vanguard before, and The Blue Rogues had expected Baltor, not Vigoro. The former admiral took this momentary confusion to make a statement.
"Vyse we meet again! And Red, you look as hot as ever!"
"Doesn't this guy ever give up!" exclaimed Aika as her face blushed to a shade of pink usually associated with Barbie dolls. Not that anybody there knew what a Barbie doll was. That is besides the point, however.
"I will never give up, not while there are pretty girls roaming the skies, or my name isn't Vigoro The Promiscuous!"
"Vigoro The Promiscuous, huh? It fits you . . ." said Vyse with a chuckle.
"Okay, here's The deal. You three are coming with me to fight on deck. I'll leave my men to deal with your other crew members. Now let's go!"
"Fine, come on Fina, Aika. Let's teach this guy a lesson! Again . . ."
Vyse and company fought Vigoro. It was a long battle, and during the entire fight, Dyne and his crew struggled to defend themselves from Vigoro's Black Pirates. Eventually, Dyne's men were forced to fall back as
they were overwhelmed by the superior forces. Just as all hope seemed lost, a voice called out from behind Dyne.
"Hey, looks you guys need a hand! Okay men, let's show these pirates what we're made of! Dance for me!"
A rain bullets erupted out of twin guns, striking down men left and right, leaving only a few standing. Three men quickly dispatched the survivors, and turned to face their captain. Gilder stood by Dyne, shaking his hand in greeting.
"Captain Dyne, it's great to see you again! Where are Vyse and those two pretty girls?"
"They're over there fighting Captain Vigoro. I think they could use your help, Gilder. You have experience fighting against this guy."
"Yeah, I can't let them have all the fun. Okay, men, go back to the Claudia. I'll wrap things up with Vigoro."
"Aye aye!"
Vigoro seemed to have the advantage in the battle. His cannon was blasting left and right, and the combined healing magic of Fina and Aika was barely keeping them alive. Vyse continued to try to use his own attacks, but his Pirate's Wrath seemed to do nothing to the mighty pirate. It was at that moment that they heard a familiar voice.
"You mess with me, you mess with Claudia!"
With a mighty roar, The Claudia opened fire on Vigoro and The Blackbeard, knocking the man unconscious and damaging the ship's superstructure. The ship was aflame and heading on a direct course for deep sky.
"C'mon, kids! I've saved your butts again, so let's get out of here!"
"It's great to see you too, Gilder! Let's go, everybody!"
Vyse, Aika, Fina, and Gilder ran to the edge of the ship, grabbed hold of a line to the Albatross, and climbed aboard. The Blue Rogues, rejoicing in their victory, turned around and sailed back to Pirate's Isle, flush with success.
Baltor, struggling with his controls, pulled The Blackbeard out of it's dive and managed to land by one of the many small islands under the silver moon. Then struggling to awaken the other members of the crew, Baltor slowly worked on getting the ship back to order. He approached Vigoro, not knowing what to expect. What he saw, though, defied all expectations. Vigoro's carefully sculpted body had been blown apart. His arms and legs were nowhere in sight, and blood escaped from his torso with every breath. Baltor nearly gagged, then stumbled towards his dominator to try to help him.
"B-b-balt-tor? I-is that-t you?"
"Yes sir, I am here. What can I do?"
"There is nothing, just tell Red about what happened."
"Yes, I wi- Sweet Moons Above, what The f is that?"
Out of the sky dropped a black sphere, no larger than a golf ball. It flew down out of the sky, and came to rest above Vigoro's head. Vigoro's eyes opened wide, and he let loose a piercing scream of pain, audible throughout Ixa-Taka, Glacia, and Pirate's Isle. Baltor ran away, then turned and hid behind the mast, looking fearfully at his master's transformation.
Vigoro's dismembered body rose into the air, and the black sphere seemed to grow large and envelop the former admiral. And yet, the ball seemed to also remain the size of a golf ball, giving the impression that Vigoro's body was shrinking. When the body was entirely absorbed by the sphere of black, there was a blinding flash of dark light. Everyone on board was aware of nothing but a dark flash that ruined their vision for several seconds. To Baltor, however, it was the beginning of a nightmare.
When his vision cleared, he looked at where Vigoro's body had formerly rested. In it's place was a massive creature, standing about nine feet from base to tip. It had huge feet, shaped like boots that connected to a massive, muscular torso. His right arm extended to a massive hand that looked like it could crush a small boat by itself. The other arm ended in a massive blade, sharp as a razor and powerful enough to cut down a tree in one slice. The head was twice the size of a normal human head, and was shaped like Vigoro's, complete with horrible hairstyle. What made this figure most impressive, however, was not just its size. It was the color of the blackest black hole. There was no light emanating from this creature, it was almost as if light itself were destroyed upon reaching it. With a loud roar, the creature announced it's birth.
"Raaaar! I am alive! Now all Arcadia shall cower in fear before me!"
Baltor crept forward, astounded to hear the creature speak with Vigoro's accent with it's low booming voice. Mustering all of his meager amounts of courage, he approached the monster.
"Wh-wh-what are you? Is that you, Captain Vigoro?"
"I am that mortal you call Vigoro no longer! I am Darknoth, The Black gigas! After centuries of wandering the skies, I have finally been released! And now, I need energy! You will do nicely!"
"Wait, no, hold on! I can be usefu-aaaaah!"
Darknoth, ignored the foolish human's cries reached out his hand, grasped the mortal, and proceeded consume the human, clothes, flesh, and all. Grinning as he licked the last drop of blood from his lips, Darknoth began to decide which land to destroy first: Valua, Nasr, Ixa-taka, Yafutoma, Glacia, or Soltis.